NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — There is renewed confidence from both developers and city leaders that a resort casino on the Norfolk waterfront will become a reality.
When Norfolk City Council voted last week to allow Las Vegas gambling giant Boyd Gaming to replace Tennessee billionaire Jon Yarbrough as the bankroller of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s resort casino dreams, both Council members Tommy Smigiel and Andria McClellan described it as a “rescue” effort.
Frustration had been growing with the lack of progress on the development team’s promise to deliver a $500 million development to banks of the Elizabeth River. Time was also running out. Per state law, a casino license must be awarded by early November of 2025, or the city would forfeit its right to have casino gambling.
With Boyd now leading the way, Mayor Kenny Alexander is positive they will meet their deadline.
“I never was discouraged and never thought it wasn’t going to happen,” Alexander said. “We just had to ensure we had the right partner with the wherewithal like Boyd.”